Closure latch



s. DULUK ETAL 3,082,030

cLosURE LATCH 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 19, 1963 Filed July 18, 1960 11... fflfvwadrle: alla Jule-I March 19, 1963 l s. DULUK ETAL.

CLOSURE LATCH 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 18, 1960 IN VENTORS fw/,y M/f By f! MM A f/Vf/V United States Patent O 3,082,030 CLGSURE LATCH Stanley Duluk, Dearborn, and Wilson H. West, Madison Heights, Mich., assignors to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Filed .luly 18, 1960, Ser. No. 43,666 4 Claims. (Cl. 292--113) This invention relates to closure latches, and more particularly to a convertible top header latch assembly.

The pri-mary object of this invention is to provide a new and improved convertible top header latch assembly which materially reduces the effort required of the operator to both latch and unlatch a top header to and from a windshield header. In accomplishing this object of the invention, the subject latch assembly includes a vertically swingable manually operable handle assembly which is movable between closed and open positions with respect to a latch housing on the top header, with the closed and open positions of the handle assembly corresponding respectively to the latched and unlatched positions of the latch assembly. By rotatably mounting thehandle assembly on the top header for swinging-movement about a generally horizontally disposed axis; the operator is permitted to use his leverage to the best advantage in order to move the handle between its terminal positions. The handle assembly is further selectively and alternately biased to either of its terminal positions, with locating means being provided to locate the handle as-V sembly in both terminal positions against the biasing means. A latch bolt assembly is swingably mounted on the handle assembly and is biased toward latched'positiongat all times. When the latch assembly is in latched position, the handle is in closed position and the latch bolt assembly is in latching engagement with the striker assembly on the windshield header, with the axis of swinging of the handle assembly on the housing being disposed to one side of a line through the axis of `swinging of the latch bolt assembly on the handle assemblygand the point of engagement of the latch bolt assembly with the striker assembly. open position, the handle biasing means initially resists movement of the handle assembly toward open position and thereafter aids such movement of the handle assembly'. SinceV the latch bolt assembly is continually biased toward latched position, it will continuously engage `the striker assembly and slide out of latching engagement therewith as the handle assembly moves toward open position, with the unlatched position of the latch bolt assembly being determined by interengaging means on the latch bolt assembly and on the handle assembly in the open position ofthe latter.

The operator can easily move the handle assembly between its open and 'closed positions despite the action of the biasing means whichgalways initially resists movement of the handle assembly from one terminal position towards another terminal position tor part of the movement thereof and thereafter aids movement of t-he handle assembly from the one terminalspositionto the other terrrrinalposition; By providing a handle assembly of this type and4 a latch bolt assembly which is rotatably mounted on the handle assembly and continually biased toward latched position, the operator need jexert little eiitort'inV both' latching and-unlatching the top header'to and from the windshield header, and further is pe'r'mittedtouse his leverage to the best possible advantage.`

Other objects of this invention will'be readily apparent-A rom the following specification `.and drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a partial perspective view of a conyertible automobile having 'aconvertible top mounted thereon and embodying a convertible top header latch assem- When-the handle assembly is moved to an ice o l bly according to this invention, with the latch assembly being shown in `latched position;

FIGURE 2 is .an enlarged partially broken away view of a portion of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3- is anenlarged sectional view taken generally along the plane indicated'by line 3--3 of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 4 is la View similar to FIGURE 3 sho-wing the latch assembly in an unlatched position.

Referring now to FIGURE 1 of the drawings a convertib-le vehicle- 10 includes a windshield 12 which is housed within .a windshield header 14. A convertible top frame 16V of known type is mounted on the body` 10for movement between `a raised position, as shown, and a lowered position, not shown, with frame 16 supporting the usual-convertible `top fabric 18. Frame 16 includes a top header 20 whichV bears against the. windshield header 14 20 being latched to the windshield header 14 by a top header latch assembly 22 according to this invention. It.

will be understood ,thattwo such .assemblies 22 are usually provided, one being locatedl adjacent each end of the top header 20.

As shown in FIGURES 3 .and 4 of the drawings, header 20 includes an upper member 2.4 and a lower member 26, with members 2.4 and 26 `being secured together at 23v adjacent the forward edges thereof.. member 30 interconnects the rear. edge portions of members 24 and 26 adjacent the upper rearward edge of `the top header 20. Members` 26 and 30 are cut away to provide an opening 32 to receive the latch assembly 22.

Latch assembly 22 includes a housing 34 provided with a continuous peripheral flange 36 which is complementary to t-he .shape of member 26 and is bolted thereto at 38. A pair of spaced arcuately shaped ribs 40 of housing 36 define a longitudinally arcuate opening 42 therebetween. A.general1y arcuately shaped handle 44 tits withinfthe opening 42 and includes agspaced .pair of laterally extending arms 46 which are `rotatably mounted on studs 48` tXedto the inner Walls 50ct the ribs 40 inorder to ro-y thereof hooked within an opening in a wall `50 and theV other end 56 thereof hooked withinan opening in an arm 46. Springs 52 selectively `and alternately bias the handle, 44 to either its closed or to its open position. 'When the handle 44 is in a Closed position asrshown in FIGURE 3, springs 52 bias the arms 46 of .the handle into engagement -with a web 58 interconnecting the walls 50- or" housing 34 in order to locate the handle 44 in this position. When the handle 44 is moved from its closed position, as shown in FIGURE 3, to its open position, as shown in FIGURE 4, springs 52 will initially resist such movement of the handle 44 until the ends'56 of the spring come into alignment'withV .the axesof studs '4S and the ends 54 of the spring.` Ihereaften whenthe ends 56 of the springs pass beyond this aligned posi-tion, the springs 52 will then ac t to bias*` the h andle to its open position, as shown in FIGUREv 4, with the handle being located in this position by engagement of the'tinge'r piece 60 of the handle with a portion d2 of the tlange 36 of husing`34.

` A U-shapedl bracket or'lat'ch bolt support`member 64. is located between the arms 46 of. the handle and is swing-4 M J oneend of ahook type latch bolt 72, with bolt 72 being adjust'ab-ly secu'ed to the bracket 64 by means of a setr A reinforcing` screw 74. A coil torsion spring 76 surrounds shaft 68 intermediate the legs of the bracket 64, with one end 78 of the spring bearing against the inner surface of the handle 44 andthe other end 80 of the spring bearing against one side of thc base of bracket 64 in order to continually bias the latch bolt assembly, including the bolt 72 and the bracket 64, toward latched position or clockwise, as viewed in FIGURES 3 and 4 of the drawings, about the shaft 68.

When the handle 44 is in its closed position, as shown in FIGURE 3, bolt 72 will be in latching engagement with a lip S2 of a striker assembly 84 which is bolted at 86 to the windshield header 14. The striker assembly further includes a laterally extending apertured ear 88, FIGURES 1 and 2, which receives a conical headed guide pin 90 integral with the housing 34 in order to laterally locate the top header 2t) with respect to the windshield header 14. The striker assembly 84 may also include a support 92 for a sun shade support arm 94 in order to mount a sun shade 96 on the windshiled header 14.

If it is desired to unlatch the latch assembly, the finger piece 60` is grasped by the operator and is moved rearwardly or upwardly in order to rotate the handle 44 counterclockwise about the studs 48 to open position. During such movement of the handle 44 to open position, springs 52 will initially act to resist the movement and thereafter aid the movement of handle 44, as previously described. During this movement of the handle, the latch bolt 72 will continuously slide downwardly and rearwardly relative to lip 82, as viewed in FIGURE 3, as the spring 76 continually biases the bracket 64 clockwise relative to the arms 46 as the arms 46 swing counterclockwise about the pivot studs 48. The bolt 72 continues to slide relative to the lip 82 of the striker assembly S4 as the handle 44 moves toward its open position. When the handle reaches its open position, the base of the bracket 64 will engage the lip 82, as shown in FIGURE 4, and the interengagement of shoulders 98 on the legs of the bracket 64 and a shoulder 100 on the handle 44 accurately locates the latch bolt assembly in this position prior to movement of the top to a lowered position.

The operator is aided in moving the handle 44 from its closed position to its open position by the seal pressure ofthe weatherstrip 102 which seals the convertible top header against the windshield header 14. Further, once the ends 56 of the springs 52 have moved into alignment with the axes of studs 4S and the ends 54 of the spring and then beyond such alignment, the springs 52 will then also aid the operator in moving the handle l44- from its closed position to its open position. Thus, very little effort is required of the operator in order to unlatch the top header from the windshield header.

If the top is thereafter moved from its lowered position to a raised position, the top header will be located with respect to the windshield header, as shown in FIGURE 4 of the drawings. The operator then grasps the finger piece 60 to move the handle 44 from its open position to its closed position. During this movement of the handle, the springs 52 will initially resist movement of the handle until the ends S6 thereof come into alignment with and pass beyond the line between the ends 54 of the springs and the axes of the studs 48. Thereafter the springs 52 will act to bias the handle 44 to its closed position and will aid the operator in compressing the weatherstrip 102 against the windshield header 14. During this movement of the handle 44, the spring 76 will continue to bias the bolt 72 toward latched position so that the bolt will slide upwardly ad forwardly of the lip 82 and into latching engagement therewith.

Thus this invention provides a new and improved convertible top header latch assembly.

What is claimed is:

1. Latch means for an automobile convertible top header movable into and out of engagement with a windshield header having striker means mounted thereon comprising, in combination, latch support means mounted on said top header, latch operating means swingably mounted on said support means for movement between first and second terminal positions relative thereto corresponding to latched and unlatched positions of said latch means, means selectively and alternately biasing said latch operating means to either of said terminal positions thereof, locating means engageable by said operating means in the terminal positions thereof under the action of said biasing means to locate said operating means in each of said positions, a latch bolt swingably mounted on said operating means for movement therewith and movement relative thereto, biasing means interconnecting said latch bolt and said operating means and continuously biasing said latch bolt to the latched position thereof, the pivotal axis of said latch bolt and the point of engagement of said bolt with said striker means being located on opposite sides of the pivotal axis of said operating means on said support and over center with respect thereto in the latched position of said latch bolt whereby the over center relationship of said pivotal axes and said point of engagement of said operating means with said locating means holds said bolt in tight engagement with said striker means in the latched position thereof.

2. Latch means for an automobile convertible top header movable into and out of engagement with a windshield header having striker means mounted thereon comprising, in combination, a support mounted on said top header, a latch operating member swingably mounted on said support for movement between first and second terminal positions relative thereto corresponding to latched and unlatched positions of said latch means, first biasing means selectively and alternately biasing said latch operating member to either of said terminal positions thereof, locating means engageable by said operating member in the terminal positions thereof under the action of said biasing means to locate said operating member in each of said positions, a latch bolt swingably mounted on said operating member for movement therewith and movement relative thereto, second biasing means interconnecting said bolt and said operating member and continuously biasing said latch bolt to the latched position thereof, said second biasing means biasing said bolt into engagement with said striker means in said tirst terminal position of said operating member, and means on said operating member engageable by said bolt in the unlatched position thereof and second position of said operating member to locate said bolt in said unlatched position with respect to said striker means.

3. Latch means for an automobile convertible top header movable into and out of engagement with a windshield header having striker means mounted thereon comprising, in combination, a latch support mounted on said top header, a latch operating member swingably mounted on said support for movement between first and second terminal positions relative thereto corresponding to latched and unlatched positions of said latch means, first biasing means selectively and alternately biasing said operating member to either of said terminal positions thereof, locating means engageable by said operating member in the terminal positions thereof to locate said member in each of said positions, a latch bolt swingably mounted on said operating member for movement therewith and movement relative thereto between latched and unlatched positions, second biasing means interconnecting said bolt and said operating member and continuous- Vly'biasing said bolt to the latched position thereof, the

pivotal axis of said bolt and the point of engagement of said bolt with said striker means being located to either side of the pivotal axis of said operating member on said support and over center with respect thereto in the latched position of said bolt and first position of said member to hold said bolt in tight engagement with said striker means, movement of said member to said second position thereof causing said pivotal axis of said bolt to move over center with respect to said axis of said operating member and said point of engagement to permit said second biasing means to cause said bolt to slide relative to said striker means and out of engagement therewith.

4. Latch means for an automobile convertible top header movable into and out of engagement with a windshield header having striker means mounted thereon comprising, in combination, a latch support mounted on said top header, a latch operating member swing'ably mounted on said support for movement between rst and second terminal positions relative thereto corresponding to latched and unlatched positions of said latch means, means selectively and alternately biasing said latch operating member to either of said terminal positions thereof, a latch bolt swingably mounted on said operating member for movement therewith and movement relative thereto, second biasing means interconnecting said latch bolt and said operating member and continuously biasing said latch bolt to the latched position thereof, the pivotal axis of said latch bolt being located to one side of a line through the point of engagement of said bolt with said striker means and the pivotal axis of said operating member on said support in the latched position of said latch bolt and rst terminal position of said operating member, move- References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,824,912 Mears Sept. 29, 1931 1,874,230 Blackmore Aug. 30, 1932 2,709,621 Votypka et al. May 31, 1955 2,712,955 Andrews July 12, 1955 2,886,364 Smith May 12, 1959 3,004,788 Dully et al. Oct. 17, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS 646,334 Great Britain Nov. 22, 1950 

4. LATCH MEANS FOR AN AUTOMOBILE CONVERTIBLE TOP HEADER MOVABLE INTO AND OUT OF ENGAGEMENT WITH A WINDSHIELD HEADER HAVING STRIKER MEANS MOUNTED THEREON COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A LATCH SUPPORT MOUNTED ON SAID TOP HEADER, A LATCH OPERATING MEMBER SWINGABLY MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT FOR MOVEMENT BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND TERMINAL POSITIONS RELATIVE THERETO CORRESPONDING TO LATCHED AND UNLATCHED POSITIONS OF SAID LATCH MEANS, MEANS SELECTIVELY AND ALTERNATLY BIASING SAID LATCH OPERATING MEMBER TO EITHER OF SAID TERMINAL POSITIONS THEREOF, A LATCH BOLT SWINGABLY MOUNTED ON SAID OPERATING MEMBER FOR MOVEMENT THEREWITH AND MOVEMENT RELATIVE THERETO, SECOND BIASING MEANS INTERCONNECTING SAID LATCH BOLT AND SAID OPERATING MEMBER AND CONTINUOUSLY BIASING SAID LATCH BOLT TO THE LATCHED POSITION THEREOF, THE PIVOTAL AXIS OF SAID LATCH BOLT BEING LOCATED TO ONE SIDE OF A LINE THROUGH 